And Thamood, then We guided them, then they liked the blindness upon the Guidance, thus they were affected with stunning heinous punishment because of what they were earning.
When one hears or reads Adhikr, his conscience approves that it is the Truth from the Lord. But since he gives preference to worldly life over the Hereafter, he won’t follow It. That is what is meant by ‘they preferred blindness over Guidance’ mentioned in the verse. The Arabic Quran reading Fujjar, whose ledger is in Sijjeen of Hell, are deaf, dumb, and blind toward Adhikr, which is the Best Interpretation of the Lord’s Book, as explained in verses 2: 16-18 and 25: 33-34. These original disbelievers, mentioned in verses 4: 150-151, are serving Satan and are following his footsteps, as explained in verses 2: 168-169 and 36: 59-62, and they are destined for the house of Satan. See explanation 17: 97-98; 18: 101.